MVP Development Ireland: Custom MVP Software

Custom MVP Development, Explained

GBA Solutions builds custom MVPs (minimum viable products) for founders, startups and established businesses in Ireland and Northern Ireland: a working first version of your app or software that real users can try, usually built in 4 to 8 weeks. A typical MVP costs from €3,000 to €8,000.

An MVP is the simplest version of your product that solves a real problem for a real person. It isn't a wireframe or a slide deck. It's something you can hand to someone and say "go on, try that". You build something small, put it in people's hands, and let their feedback shape what comes next instead of guesswork.

We're a technology company based in County Kildare. We've been building MVPs for Irish businesses and founders for years, and some of them have gone on to become live products with paying users.

Who an MVP is for

Founders with a new idea who want to find out if people will actually use it before spending a large budget.
Industry experts who want to turn what they know into a SaaS product that others pay for.
Established businesses testing a new product line or an internal tool with a pilot group first.
Anyone with a tight budget who wants to start with the most useful features and add the rest in phases.

What Goes Into an MVP, and What to Leave Out

A good MVP solves one clear problem well. Everything else waits until real users tell you it's needed.

What we usually include

A secure login and user profiles
One or two features that solve the core problem
Simple forms that save data to a cloud database
Notifications, where they matter to the user
Clean, simple branding that's easy to use on a phone or tablet

What we usually leave for later

Detailed reporting and dashboards
Extra user roles and permissions
Integrations with your other systems
Multi-site support and multiple languages
Custom animations and consumer-grade design polish

Three questions to answer before you build

The most common mistake we see is spending the whole budget on the build and leaving nothing for promotion, testing or improvements. Before we start, it helps if you can answer these:

Who is this for? Be as specific as you can about the first users.
How will they find out about it? Sometimes that's as simple as your existing network or a small paid test.
How will you know it's working? Decide what success looks like before launch day.

You don't need a full business plan. You do need a clear problem to solve and a rough sense of who has it. We'll help you shape the software around that, and we'll challenge assumptions gently along the way. You can read more in our article on MVP development in Ireland: build fast, validate and scale.

From MVP to Live SaaS: How TillageTrack Started

TillageTrack is the clearest example of what an MVP can grow into. It began as a simple app for one farmer and is now a SaaS product on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, used by tillage farmers across Ireland.

The problem

Isaac Wheelock, a tillage farmer in Co Wexford, was spending too much time on paperwork for inspections and compliance with the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS). He was writing in notebooks and trying to remember what he sprayed, where and when. There were plenty of apps for dairy and beef farmers, but nothing focused on tillage.

The MVP

His brief was simple: it had to be easy to use, available on mobile, and make record-keeping straightforward. We scoped a lean first version that delivered the core functionality Isaac needed on his own farm. The app lets farmers log field activities such as spraying, sowing and harvesting, track inputs like fertiliser, seed and chemicals, and produce inspection-ready reports from their phone. We built it as a native app for iPhone (Swift) and Android (Kotlin), with Firebase and Google Cloud Platform behind it.

Turning it into a SaaS product

Once Isaac was using it on his own farm, real feedback came in and we added features from there. We then adapted the app so that other farmers could use it too, adding:

Self-managed account creation, so new farmers can sign up on their own
Farm-specific settings and field data
Support for multiple users on a farm
Secure cloud-based data storage

Because it runs in the cloud, updates and improvements reach every user at once. Isaac didn't want a once-off solution, so we laid the groundwork for more users from the start, without building everything on day one.

What it shows

Start with a real problem that you understand well, solve it for one user first, and grow from there. Read the full TillageTrack case study.

Other Projects That Started Small

Most of our longer-running projects began with one focused first version.

AM Site Solutions

This construction health and safety business started with one task: digitising a single safety form. Users told us what they needed next, and it now handles GA1 and GA2 forms, certificates, expiry reminders and subscriptions. GA1 certificate processing alone saves 492 hours a year, roughly three months of one person's time.

Cork Office Machines and Supplies

A family business was keying printer usage data from emails into spreadsheets every month. A focused web app now reads that data automatically, giving them 90% less manual work on order processing and billing, and they've added to it since.

Tom O'Grady Heating and Plumbing

Tom was spending his evenings on quotes, invoices and supplier orders. A simple iPhone app built around his workflow handles jobs, quotes and invoices, and he's won back about 10 to 15 hours a week.

MVP Development for Startups and First-Time Founders

If you're starting a business around a software idea, an MVP lets you test it with real customers for a fraction of the cost of a full build. You don't need a big team or investor backing. You need a clear idea, a plan to reach your first users, and a developer who'll tell you honestly what's worth building now and what can wait.

How we help startups

No technical knowledge needed. Tell us what you need in plain English and we'll turn it into working software, without the jargon.
Built to fit a startup budget. We help you prioritise the most useful features first, so you avoid paying for things you don't need yet and avoid expensive software licences.
Connects to the tools you already use. Where it's needed, your software can work alongside accounting packages such as Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, or a CRM such as HubSpot.
Room to change direction. We don't penalise you for changes. If early users point you somewhere new, we adapt as we go.

If your idea is still half-formed, that's fine. A conversation about what you're trying to solve is usually the best place to start. Local Enterprise Office grants may also help some small businesses with the cost of going digital, and we've written about the LEO Digital Start Grant and where we fit in.

Building a SaaS Product? Start With an MVP

Many professionals have built their own tools or workflows that work well for them. If others in your industry have the same problem, that know-how can become a subscription product.

Turn your expertise into a product

You know the problem better than any developer. We help consultants, trainers, industry professionals and niche service providers package what they know into software that others can sign up for, just as Isaac did with TillageTrack.

The SaaS basics, added when you need them

A SaaS product needs things a single-user app doesn't: customers signing themselves up, separate settings and data for each customer, multiple users per account, and billing. We built Stripe subscriptions into the AM Site Solutions platform, and we can add the same to yours once the core product has proven itself.

Prove demand before you scale

We'd rather build a lean version for your first customers and adjust features and pricing based on real feedback than build a large platform nobody has tested. That keeps your risk low.

We run SaaS products ourselves

As well as client work, we build and run our own software products, including SmartChef and LeadLog. We know what it takes to keep a subscription product going after launch, not just how to build one.

MVPs for Internal Tools

MVPs aren't just for startups. If your team spends hours each week juggling spreadsheets, emails and paperwork, you don't need a huge system overhaul. An internal tool MVP tackles one clear business problem first, gets your staff using it, and grows from there.

Good candidates include a simple app to track jobs or staff tasks, a digital form that replaces paperwork, a dashboard that replaces a spreadsheet, or compliance and inspection records. The approach is the same each time: pick the task your team dreads most, build only the essential features, let the people who'll use it test it early, and add reporting, user roles or integrations later.

We've written a full article on this: MVPs aren't just for start-ups: why internal tools deserve a lean approach. If automation is your main goal, see our business automation service too.

How an MVP Project Runs

A focused MVP usually takes 4 to 8 weeks from idea to a working version. After that, the system keeps growing in stages, often over several years.

1

A conversation about the problem

We start by learning about you, your users and the problem you want to solve. Together we decide which features will prove the idea and which can wait.

2

A clear plan and a fixed price

You get a clear plan, a fixed price and a realistic timeline before any development starts, so you can decide with your eyes open.

3

Building, with you involved

We show you progress as we go and ask for your feedback early, so features can be adjusted before they're fully built. You won't wait months to see anything.

4

Testing with real users

The MVP goes to a small group of real users, whether that's your first customers or a pilot team in your business, to see what works and what doesn't.

5

Launch

For a web app, launch means going live in the browser. For a mobile app, we handle the App Store and Google Play submissions for you, and can publish under our own developer accounts.

6

Learn and decide what's next

With real feedback in hand, you can invest in what works, change direction, or stop before spending more. Any of those is a good outcome compared with guessing.

What an MVP Costs

Most MVPs we build cost from €3,000 to €8,000. The price depends mainly on how many features you need, whether it's a web app or a mobile app for both iPhone and Android, and whether it has to connect to other systems.

Type of build	Typical cost
MVP or first version	€3,000 to €8,000
Mid-sized app	€8,000 to €12,000, depending on complexity
Larger builds	€15,000 and up, usually once the MVP has proven itself
Apple developer account	€99 a year
Google Play developer account	€25 once

If your budget is at the lower end, a web app is often the more affordable way to test an idea. It runs in the browser on any device, and if the idea takes off it can become a mobile app later. People often come to us sure they need a mobile app and decide, after talking it through, that a web app is the better first step.

Starting small also gives us both a chance to get used to working together before bigger investments are made. For a detailed breakdown of app costs, read how much it actually costs to develop a mobile app in Ireland.

What Happens After Launch

Launch is when the useful learning starts. Your MVP is a first draft, not the final product. You gather feedback, see what people are actually doing in the app, and we help you decide what to build next.

Growing in phases. New features are added in stages as you need them, so you only pay for what's proven useful. TillageTrack and AM Site Solutions both grew this way.
Support and maintenance. We don't disappear after launch. We stay on to maintain, support and improve your software.
Keeping up with Apple and Google. Mobile apps need occasional updates as the platforms change. If your app hasn't changed, annual updates usually take just a few hours.
Getting it in front of people. A great product nobody sees goes nowhere, so keep some budget back for reaching users and acting on what they tell you.

Why Work With a Small Irish Developer

You deal directly with the person building your software, from the first call to launch and beyond.

Direct and local

We're an Irish-owned business in County Kildare, working with clients across Ireland. You deal with one person from start to finish, with no layers of account managers.

We understand business

We're a small business too, so we know the pressure of budgets and deadlines. We won't sell you features you don't need, and pricing is transparent.

Built to last

Mobile apps are built natively in Swift and Kotlin, on Firebase and Google Cloud. Google Cloud offers the option to keep your data in the EU.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to build an MVP in Ireland?

Most MVPs we build cost from €3,000 to €8,000, depending on how many features you need and whether it's a web app or a mobile app for iPhone and Android. A mid-sized app usually costs €8,000 to €12,000, and larger builds start at €15,000, usually once the MVP has proven itself. We agree a fixed price with you before any development starts.

How long does it take to build an MVP?

A focused MVP usually takes 4 to 8 weeks to go from idea to a working version. MVPs are getting quicker to build, because the tools keep improving and we use AI to help with parts of the development work. From there, the system keeps growing in stages for as long as it's useful to you. You'll see progress throughout, so you're never waiting until the end to find out how it's going.

Can you build an MVP in under 8 weeks?

Yes, if the scope is kept tight. A simple MVP that solves one clear problem usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. The more features, integrations and user types you add, the longer it takes, which is why we help you decide what can wait until version two.

What should an MVP include?

An MVP should include only what's needed to solve one real problem for one type of user. For most apps that means a login, user profiles, one or two core features and somewhere to store the data safely. Reporting, extra user roles, integrations and polish can be added once you know people are using it.

What is the difference between an MVP and a prototype?

A prototype or wireframe shows what a product might look like. An MVP is working software that someone can actually use for its real purpose. That's what lets you learn from real behaviour rather than opinions.

Do I need to be technical to build an MVP?

No. We work with founders and business owners from all backgrounds, and you can tell us what you need in plain English. What matters is that you know your field and the problem well, and that you're open to feedback once real users get their hands on it.

Should my MVP be a mobile app or a web app?

It depends on who will use it and where. A web app runs in the browser on any device and is often the more affordable way to test an idea, and it can be turned into a mobile app later. If your users need it on their phones in the field, a native iPhone and Android app may be the better starting point.

Can an MVP grow into a full SaaS product?

Yes. TillageTrack started as a simple app for one Wexford farmer and became a SaaS product that other tillage farmers sign up for and use, available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. We plan MVPs so that the parts you'll need later, like accounts and multiple users, can be added without starting again.

Do I need my own App Store and Google Play accounts?

Not necessarily. Apple charges €99 a year and Google charges €25 once for a developer account, and we're happy to publish your app under our own accounts if that makes life easier. Apps can be transferred to your own accounts later if you prefer.

What happens after my MVP is launched?

You gather feedback, watch how people use it and decide what to build next, and we help you do that. We stay on to support and maintain your software, and if nothing has changed, annual updates usually take just a few hours. New features are added in phases as you need them.

Are MVPs only for startups?

No. Established businesses use the same approach for internal tools, such as a job tracking app or a digital form that replaces paperwork. You build the smallest useful version, let your staff test it, and expand it once it has proven its worth.

Do you build MVPs for businesses in Dublin and Northern Ireland?

Yes. We're based in County Kildare and work with founders and businesses across Ireland and Northern Ireland, including Dublin, Cork and Galway. We've also built software for a business in the UK.

Have an Idea You'd Like to Test?

Tell us about the problem you want to solve and we'll talk through what a sensible first version would look like, what it would cost and how long it would take.

Get in touch +353 87 180 7873

Custom MVP Development in Ireland